Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it have made sense for Nokia to accelerate their Qt/Meego strategy (for the latest multi-core ARM chips) while making Android apps work seamlessly too?

Google can't change Android APIs overnight any longer since they now have critical mass. OTOH there are lots of little Android (and iOS) applets that some users somewhere might find important to them. HTML5 isn't going to be a major factor for at least the next couple of years.

With hardware level control over their own OS (present and future), Nokia could have shamed the Android-only market/OEMs by providing their users with true long-term support, e.g. minimum of two years of feature updates and afterwards there's still the capable community providing security updates etc.

The most egregious problem the average Android user has is simply the lack of support by the short term-minded manufacturers, Google doesn't care either. Therefore most of today's Android phones run outdated (and possibly insecure) versions of the OS and they will never get updates.

Be the caring one.

Apart from the obsessed lunatic fringe of gadget hoppers, everyone prefers to deal with a decent company that doesn't dump you as soon as you've handed over the cash!

And before I forget, rebrand MeeGo. It's a disaster of a brand. Do it now before it goes mainstream. It's easy. 1-2-3.

Now, pick a multi-core ARM chipset to plan your 1st gen devices around and don't skimp on RAM. You'll support this platform for at least two years after you've sold the last device! In return the users will be living, breathing and buying within your new ecosystem for the same period. They'll love it since they don't have to suffer the frequent abandonments of the Android side but still get the features.

Meanwhile drastically simplify your Symbian lineup, keep the underlying hardware simple and easy to support. Build Qt-based set of tools (Phone Manager) for managing updates and data shuffling that works on any plaform. Even between Symbian and the new top end platform (previously known as "MeeGo").

Now go back to the 1st gen new hardware and design *one* (initially) modern 7-inch (emerging sweet spot) WIFI-only companion tablet that works seamlessly with any new Qt-based Nokia phones (there are endless ways for creating usability there!) and with the new eco-system. It brings users to the new eco-system while adding value to the humongous lower-end userbase Nokia has traditionally owned. Those users will keep paying Nokia's bills for years to come. I'm quite certain that despite the new smartphone platforms most people on the planet like it simple. Give them the option without forcing them to change. Simple and affordable multi-user companion tablets would help maintain Nokia's leadership especially in the emerging markets. Hmm... to get poorly supported and poor quality low-end Android handsets for everyone, or a well-made reasonably well-featured new Symbians with cutting-edge features on a companion tablet that can be shared and which works standalone on WIFI networks too??

Use your economies-of-scale to mass produce these three new manageable hardware lines and price them competitively, even in family/business bundles.

And Nokia's "Borat of Directors", read both the Risku manifest and the Plan B and take them to heart. Step down instead of dragging the whole institution under just because of your personal vanity.